Donald Trump says he gave “a little respite” to Canada and Mexico to “help” its neighbors

“I wanted to help Mexico and Canada. To some extent, we are a very large country and they do many business with us, while in our case it is much less significant. We traded very little with Canada compared”, Explained the US president in an interview with Fox Business.

According to data from the Department of Commerce, USA exported goods and services by value of 440,000 million dollars to Canada and 393,000 million dollars to Mexico in 2024which makes them the two main destinations of American products, and much of this trade takes place within the framework of the North American Free Trade Agreement (T-MEC).

“I thought it would be fair, so I gave them a Small breath During this short period of time”Until April 2, he said.

“And wanted to help American car manufacturers ”, Until that day, when “Everything becomes reciprocal. What they charge us, we charge it. It is a great agreement”He added.

What he calls tariffs “reciprocal”They are designed to tax a country when they enter into USA at the same level that this State imposes on the same US assets as it matters.

American products exported to Canada and Mexico that meet the requirements of the T-MEC They enter both countries without paying taxes.

In early February, Trump announced the imposition of customs tariffs of 25% to all products from Canada and Mexico, and 10% to Canadian hydrocarbons. Accuses both countries of not doing enough to combat the Fentanyl traffica powerful opioid that causes a serious health crisis in USA.

I paused a month to leave margin talks But they entered into force on Tuesday. Finally, he turned back and suspended a good part of them until April 2.

That day the “reciprocal” tariffs What you want to introduce.

Trump It also imposed 20% of additional customs rates to Chinese products, which entered into force in two phases, the first in early February.

Beijing counteratacious announcing a series of taxes as reprisal particularly aimed at agricultural products from US regions who voted for the American billionaire, according to analysts.

States Joined has also announced tariffs on the steel and aluminum As of March 12.